About Us

Helping the people of San Diego County with their hearing since 2010.

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Our Mission

Peninsula Hearing & Balance Center is owned by audiologist, Dr. Dena Riso. Dr. Riso and the team have been serving San Diego and the surrounding communities for over a decade. We offer a full range of diagnostic and preventative hearing healthcare services, including hearing tests, tinnitus management, hearing aid evaluations and services, and balance testing. Our team has the knowledge and skills to help you overcome hearing loss, dizziness, or another ear disorder.

Meet Our Team

Our team is committed to protecting your hearing and helping you experience a better quality of life. Meet your audiologists in Point Loma, Coronado, and Rancho Bernardo, CA!

Dr. Dena J. Riso of Peninsula Hearing and Balance Center

Dr. Dena J. Riso, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology | Owner | Director of Operations

Dr. Dena, owner of Peninsula Hearing & Balance Center, is a native San Diegan. She has worked with the hearing impaired for over fifteen years and prides herself on continuing the care of the community she calls home. Dena’s experience includes a variety of healthcare settings including private practice, hospitals, clinics, and as an educational and occupational Audiologist. She has the capability to properly assess any individual’s hearing needs no matter their age, budget, lifestyle, or type of hearing loss.

Peninsula Hearing & Balance Center has three convenient locations. The first office opened in the village of Point Loma, with a friendly, knowledgeable, full-time staff. The staff shares a community focus, which is enhanced by Dena, who remains active in the Point Loma Association and Coronado Rotary. With this home-grown, professional expertise, Dena and her staff can accurately develop a healthy hearing plan to improve the quality of life for every patient that walks through the door. Now more than ever is a great time to hear what you’ve been missing.

Besides a beautiful private practice in Point Loma, Dr. Dena opened another location in Coronado in 2014 and then an office in Rancho Bernardo in 2022.

Personally, Dena enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs. Taking part in all Southern California has to offer, she loves taking her dogs to OB Dog Beach, running, swimming, hiking, and riding bicycles with her family. Dr. Dena Riso, Au.D. is a licensed Doctor of Audiology and certified Hearing Aid Dispenser with the state of California.

Meet the Professional

Dr. Sarah Hernandez of Peninsula Hearing and Balance Center

Dr. Sarah Hernandez, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Sarah Hernandez is a San Diego native and previously worked at PHC from 2014 to 2017 as an audiology assistant before leaving to receive her doctorate at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Az. During her time away, she gained multiple clinical experiences doing diagnostic balance assessments that she will now be incorporating into our Rancho Bernardo location. When Dr. Hernandez is not in the office, she loves going on outdoor adventures with her husband, Luis, or spending time with her family and friends.

Meet the Professional

Ruby Sortillon of Peninsula Hearing and Balance Center

Ruby Sortillon

Director of Patient Relations | Front Office Lead

Ruby Sortillon is a native San Diegan who married her high school sweetheart and currently lives in beautiful Chula Vista. She is a mom of 2 adult children and Glammy to her adorable grandson Joey Grey. She has worked in the hearing industry since 2007, which is where she met Dr. Dena. She is incredibly knowledgeable in hearing aids, hearing loss counseling, and insurance billing. You can always call our office and be certain that she will help you with anything you may need.

If you happen to stop by and Dr. Riso is busy, Ruby can help you clean, repair, and explain all of your hearing aid needs.

When she’s not managing the Point Loma office, Ruby enjoys spending time with her family and wonderful dog, Buchanas.

Briana Hamilton

Briana Hamilton

Front Office Administrator | Coronado

Bri is the newest member at our Coronado & Point Loma offices. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. She served in the Navy for five years as an aircraft mechanic before separating. San Diego has become her home for the past three years alongside her partner, Michael, who is still serving in the Navy. 

When Bri is not in the office, she is at school continuing her education. She hopes to get a bachelor’s degree in biology and maybe even further her education with a master’s degree to become a Physician Assistant. During her free time, Bri enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her 2 cats, and traveling.

Come by Point Loma or Coronado, say hi and get your hearing aids cleaned with Bri!

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How We Give Back to Our Community

As a native San Diegan, Dr. Riso values community and does her best to give back. She provides hearing services for many non-profits in the San Diego area. She is also a part of the ASPCA and donates to the Canine Rescue. She is a proud member of the Peninsula Breakfast Club and the Rotary Club in Coronado.